The European Commission is addressing gaps in the transposition of several EU directives across Member States. The lack of national measures hampers harmonized implementation and compliance with EU law. Here’s...
CFTC Introduces First Carbon Credit Market Guidelines The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has established its first-ever guidelines for trading voluntary carbon credit derivative contracts. This is a pivotal...
Deutsche Bank is set to strengthen its commitment to ocean conservation under its #BackBlue initiative, implementing updated due diligence requirements in Q4 2024. These updates mark a continuation of the...
Organizations are pushing forward with sustainability initiatives despite geopolitical turbulence. According to Capgemini Research Institute’s latest report, A World in Balance 2024: Accelerating Sustainability Amidst Geopolitical Challenges, regulatory frameworks and...
The Big Picture Australia’s mandatory climate reporting starts January 1, 2025, following the passage of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill. Royal Assent is expected...
Texas is facing a legal challenge from the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), a nonprofit organization advocating for environmentally sustainable business practices. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in Austin’s federal...
India is on a path to significantly expand its bioeconomy, with projections indicating growth from $130 billion in 2024 to $300 billion by 2030. This expansion is driven by the...
TotalEnergies SE faced a significant setback when South Africa’s Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) ruled that the company’s sustainability claims were “misleading,” marking the first such challenge in the country. Fossil...
The oil and gas (O&G) sector faces an urgent call to decarbonize. Responsible for 85% of CO2 emissions and a significant portion of global methane emissions, this industry holds a...
China has released a comprehensive plan to standardize carbon emission calculations across key sectors to meet its carbon reduction targets. By the end of 2024, China will publish 70 national...
MioTech is leveraging tougher ESG disclosure rules to expand its sustainability data and software services. Founder and CEO Jason Tu outlined plans for more partnerships to help clients meet regulatory...
In a landmark ruling, Australia’s Federal Court ordered Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited to pay an $7.4 million penalty for misleading claims about the sustainability of its superannuation investment options. Mercer...
For more from Tim Mohin, sign up for his newsletter here While there are still many questions about how all of these policies will work and interact, the time for implementation...
The number of plastic bags found on UK beaches has plummeted by 80% over the past decade, following the introduction of a mandatory fee for single-use carrier bags. According to...
Air New Zealand Adjusts Emission Goals Air New Zealand has retracted its 2030 emissions reduction target, citing delays in the delivery of fuel-efficient aircraft and the high cost of green...
In 2024, shareholder proposals on ESG and anti-ESG issues soared to record numbers, reaching 998 among Russell 3000 companies, surpassing 2023’s total of 947. Despite the increase, support remains inconsistent,...
Market Dynamics Driving ESG Evolution Market forces, including shifting ESG regulations, U.S. anti-ESG sentiment, and increasing competition among ESG service providers, are reshaping asset managers and rating agencies’ ESG integration....
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published an Opinion on enhancing the Sustainable Finance Regulatory Framework, highlighting potential long-term improvements. Current Framework ESMA recognizes the robust development of...
The EU has introduced a comprehensive law aimed at enhancing the sustainability of products in the market. The new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation expands on the existing Ecodesign Directive,...
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has established a Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions to design and implement policies that create a fair and affordable energy system. This initiative...
BlackRock Inc., the world’s largest asset manager, updated its decarbonization investment guidelines on July 2, allocating $150 billion for funds screened for energy transition risks and opportunities. Though based in...
The SEC, in collaboration with CFA Institute and CFA Society Thailand, hosted a training seminar to advance the integration of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors into securities analysis and...
EU Imposes Provisional Duties on Chinese BEVs The European Commission has imposed provisional countervailing duties on battery electric vehicle (BEV) imports from China, nine months after initiating an anti-subsidy investigation....
In recent years, leaders in climate-vulnerable countries have reinforced the call for urgent climate action: earlier this year through the Bridgetown Initiative 3.0 and the Vulnerable 20 (V20) Ministerial Dialogue...
ISO is developing its first international standard on net zero to provide clarity and robust requirements for the global net zero transition. Expected to launch at COP30 in November 2025,...
It seems that the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) makes a new announcement about ‘harmonizing’ corporate sustainability reporting every other week. This week, there was an update on the strengthening...
Canada has amended the Competition Act to address greenwashing, imposing strict requirements for substantiating environmental claims. Businesses face substantial penalties and increased litigation risks if found non-compliant. Urgent review of...
Denmark is set to become the first country to impose a CO2 tax on agricultural emissions, targeting livestock. This groundbreaking policy, achieved through extensive negotiations among various stakeholders, aims to...
The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) has launched Spring, a stewardship initiative backed by over 200 investors managing $15 trillion in assets. The initiative focuses on reducing the financial risks...
At the IFRS Foundation Conference coinciding with London Climate Action Week—ISSB Chair Emmanuel Faber will announce further harmonisation of the sustainability reporting landscape, as the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) embarks on...
Rules provide clarity and certainty for prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements in the Inflation Reduction Act and ensure clean energy jobs are good paying jobs. The U.S. Department of the...
Key Points: A majority of U.S. voters support key climate policies, according to recent research by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the Center for Climate Change Communication...
Key Impact Points: Green Claims Directive: Council Moves ForwardThe Council has adopted its stance on the green claims directive, aiming to combat greenwashing and empower consumers to make informed, eco-friendly...
The Council formally adopted the – first of its kind – regulation on nature restoration. This law aims to put measures in place to restore at least 20% of the...
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) recognized a critical gap between companies’ sustainability commitments and their policy engagement strategies. A recent InfluenceMap report found that 58% of the...
Helps investors monitor and report on portfolio risk and captures enhanced corporate disclosure driven by regulation ISS ESG, the sustainable investment arm of ISS STOXX, launched its enhanced Modern Slavery solution which...
Public comment on revised GRI Standards for employment practices and working conditions How are organizations responding to their responsibilities to ensure decent working conditions and fully disclose their impacts on...
Key Impact Points: • Nippon Life’s framework supports high-emitting industries’ transition to decarbonization.• Emphasizes alignment with Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target.• Framework ensures transparency and accountability in transition finance. Nippon Life...
Key Impact Points: • New appointments enhance the Committee’s capacity for consistent IFRS application.• Diverse expertise and experience brought by new members.• Strengthened guidance and interpretation of accounting standards. Committee...
The European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA – ESAs) published their Final Reports on Greenwashing in the financial sector. Key Impact Points: The European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA,...
44% of these funds are invested in assets that breach the Paris-aligned benchmark (PaB) exclusionary criteria In the first of a two-part series examining ESMA’s name rule restricting the use...
The Council has adopted a directive promoting the repair of broken or defective goods, also known as the right-to-repair (or R2R) directive. This legislation will make it easier for consumers to...
In a significant move to bolster the credibility of the carbon offset market, the Biden administration has unveiled a new policy designed to enhance transparency and integrity in carbon credit...
The Council has adopted a regulation on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology manufacturing ecosystem, better known as the ‘net-zero industry act’. This is the last...
The Council adopted a regulation on tracking and reducing methane emissions. It is part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package. The regulation introduces new requirements on measuring, reporting and verifying...
The European Union has taken a significant step towards its green transition goals with the final approval of the Ecodesign Regulation by the Council. This regulation aims to enhance the...
The Council formally adopted the regulation on CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles, amending and strengthening the existing EU rules. The updated rules will further reduce CO2 emissions from road transport and will introduce...
The first phase of the U.K.’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR), known as the anti-greenwashing rule, comes into effect at the end-of-May and will be followed by a series of substantial...
The IFRS Foundation and EFRAG have published guidance material to illustrate the high level of alignment achieved between the International Sustainability Standards Board’s IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) and...
Gentari and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for an 80MW wind power project in Tamil Nadu, India, marking a significant milestone in their clean...
Climate solutions provider Watershed has launched the Cornerstone initiative in partnership with Stanford University’s Stanford Sustainable Solutions Lab to preserve and expand access to critical sustainability datasets. These datasets underpin...
Occidental is preparing to launch operations at its Stratos direct air capture (DAC) hub in Ector County, Texas, by the end of 2025. CEO Vicky Hollub confirmed during the company’s...
DHL Supply Chain has launched a pilot program in Japan deploying hydrogen-powered fuel cell (FC) trucks, marking a milestone in its push toward decarbonized logistics. The initiative is part of...
Arevon Energy has completed the commissioning of its Eland Solar-plus-Storage complex in Kern County, California, marking one of the state’s largest clean energy developments. The facility, representing more than $2...
British Columbia has outlined its updated approach to developing, reviewing, and maintaining greenhouse gas offset protocols under its Offset Protocol Policy (OPP), aiming to enhance transparency and diversify projects that...
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has issued a no-action letter addressing the application of ESG Pillar 3 disclosure requirements under its Implementing Technical Standards (ITS). The move aims to ease...
Climate finance and technology innovation drove this week’s ESG headlines. China overhauled its green taxonomy to boost transition funding, Germany approved a bill to fast-track carbon storage, and the EU...
Companies that proactively act on environmental risks and opportunities are now seeing substantial financial rewards, according to a new report from CDP. Drawing on data from nearly 25,000 corporate disclosures...
Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. has entered into an exclusivity agreement for a $300 million preferred equity investment to launch Asset Vault, a wholly owned subsidiary that will develop, own, and...
Fortescue has secured a landmark 14.2 billion yuan ($1.98 billion) loan to accelerate its decarbonisation strategy, just weeks after cancelling green hydrogen projects in the U.S. and Australia. The five-year...
Emerge, the joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates Development Bank (EDB) to accelerate the development and financing of distributed solar...
Swiss banking giant UBS has withdrawn from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), becoming the latest in a string of high-profile exits from the global climate finance initiative. The move comes...
BeZero Carbon has been appointed by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) to deliver independent risk assessments for carbon credits authorised under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement....
Speeki is advancing its ESG platform by integrating agentic AI into Nicole®, its digital sustainability assistant, marking a shift from passive AI support to autonomous, task-oriented functionality. Agentic AI represents...
Standard Chartered has announced a landmark agreement with the Brazilian State of Acre to bring high-integrity forest protection carbon credits to market over the next five years. The partnership is...
In 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) finalized climate disclosure rules for asset managers, life insurers, and FCA-regulated pension providers, requiring firms to report in line with the Taskforce on...
Chooose has signed an agreement with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to integrate IATA CO2 Connect data into its platform, expanding global access to flight-specific carbon emissions information. The...
JERA and bp have officially launched their 50:50 joint venture, JERA Nex bp, marking a significant step in scaling global offshore wind development. The newly formed company enters the market...